All Starfield ships and how to design your own

Whether you're making it from scratch, modifying an existing ship, or simply giving one a paint job, Starfield ships can be customized to your liking.

Starfield ship flies in the background with Starfield Barrett looking on

What are the best Starfield ships? These interstellar space vessels are how you’ll travel between the stars. You’ll come across countless ships warping between solar systems; most friendly, some incredibly hostile. You’re fine to settle on your starting ship and make it your own mobile home, but you’re just as free to make your own if pilfering one from angry space pirates isn’t your style.

Not sure what you’ll be getting up to in a custom Starfield ship of your own design? By adding cargo modules, you’ll be able to make a good go of amassing Starfield contraband to rapidly gain Starfield money. You might also get a little too invested in the Starfield photo mode as well.

This is a pretty exhaustive guide, so we’ve got some quick jump links if you know what you’re here for. Keep reading for everything, or to find out where to find the best Starfield ships. However, skip ahead if you want to see some of the best community Starfield ships for some inspiration, or how to customize your Starfield ship.

The Starfield Starborn Guardian ship on a deserted planet.

Best Starfield ships

Here are the best Starfield ships and where to find them:

  • Starborn Guardian – Complete the Constellation Starfield missions and start Starfield new game plus mode.
  • Star Eagle – Complete the Freestar Rangers missions that end with “The Hammer Falls”. This ship has the best balance of stats.
  • Econohaul – Buy this at Paradiso, Neon, and Red Mile for 94,975 credits. This is a well-balanced ship for earlier in the game than the late-game ships and has a decent cargo hold size.
  • Narwhal – Available at Taiyo Astroengineering in the Ryujin Building in Neon for 455,400 credits. This ship gives you the best defensive capability and a high crew count.
  • Stronghold – Purchasable at Akila City for 400,125 credits. This ship has great defenses and a long jump drive.
  • Silent Runner – You can buy this ship at Hopetown HQ for 390,150 credits. It has the best base cargo capacity.

While there is a large variety of ships you can get for free by completing missions, there are just as many out there to buy or take over. The ships above might not be easily accessible from the jump, but by planning ahead and saving up, you can make it work.

A modified version of the Frontier takes off from the spaceport at New Atlantis, where many of the best Starfield ships are available to purchase.

All Starfield ships

The vast majority of Starfield ships can be purchased from technicians who staff the various spaceports at major Starfield cities. However, several rare ships can only be obtained by completing Starfield missions, either as part of the main quest or while assisting various Starfield factions.

Before you decide on which Starfield ship you want to add to your fleet, it’s important that you make note of its class. While any spacefarer worth their salt can pilot Class A Starfield ships, Class B and C ships can only be piloted at Piloting Rank 3 and 4, respectively.

Here are all the Starfield ships and where to get them:

Ship Class Location Value
Abyss Trekker C Ship Services Technician, Paradiso 365,525
Achilles A Ship Services Technician, Cydonia
Ship Services Technician, New Atlantis
66,525
Achilles II A Inaya Rehman, HopeTown 97,876
Aegis B Nikau Henderson, Deimos Staryard 207,150
Asphalt CB B Ship Services Technician, Cydonia
Ship Services Technician, New Atlantis
168,900
Autobahn III C Ship Services Technician, Cydonia 628,050
Big Rig B Ship Services Technician, Akila City
Inaya Rehman, HopeTown
187,300
Caravan B Lon Anderssen, Red Mile 194,675
Carry ALL B Ship Services Technician, Neon
Ship Services Technician, Paradiso
158,750
Celestial II B Nikau Henderson, Deimos Staryard 391,350
Civshuttle II C Ship Services Technician, Cydonia 269,950
Civshuttle III C Ship Services Technician, Cydonia 384,725
Conquerer B Ship Services Technician, The Eleos Retreat
Havershaw, Stroud-Eklund Staryard
272,500
Crimson Fleet Banshee B Jasmine Durand, The Key 236,125
Crimson Fleet Ghost III A Jasmine Durand, The Key 177,450
Crimson Fleet Haunt II A Jasmine Durand, The Key 130,650
Crimson Fleet Phantom II A Jasmine Durand, The Key 103,575
Crimson Fleet Specter II B Jasmine Durand, The Key 187,175
Crimson Fleet Wight C Jasmine Durand, The Key 317,700
Crimson Fleet Wraith C Can be stolen. 249,925
Crossbow C Ship Services Technician, Cydonia 277,450
Crossbow III C Ship Services Technician, Cydonia 555,650
Discovery A Ship Services Technician, Cydonia
Ship Services Technician, New Homestead
Ship Services Technician, Gagarin Landing
52,050
Dragonfire C Ship Services Technician, Eleos Retreat 308,425
Dragonfire II C Ship Services Technician, Eleos Retreat 368,325
Dullahan C Ship Services Technician, Akila City 258,550
Ecliptic Claymore C Can be stolen. N/A
Ecliptic Stiletto II A Can be stolen. N/A
Econohaul A ship Services Technician, Cydonia
Ship Services Technician, New Atlantis
Ship Services Technician, Neon
94,975
Falcon B Ship Services Technician, Neon
Veronica Young, Neon
132,075
Falcon II B Ship Services Technician, Neon 185,675
Falcon IV B Veronica Young, Neon 360,025
Frontier A Acquired during the Starfield mission ‘One Small Step’ 59,100
Galileo A Ship Services Technician, New Atlantis
Ship Services Technician, Cydonia
Stroud-Eklund Ship Kiosk, Neon
132,850
Galileo II A Ship Services Technician, Cydonia
Ship Services Technician, New Atlantis
162,550
Galileo III A Ship Services Technician, Cydonia
Ship Services Technician, New Atlantis
238,600
Gladius A Ship Services Technician, Cydonia
Ship Services Technician, New Atlantis
76,300
Hammerhead B Veronica Young, Neon 121,050
Hammerhead III B Veronica Young, Neon 275,200
Hoplite B Nikau Henderson, Deimos Staryard
Ship Services Technician, Gagarin Landing
122,050
Hoplite II B Nikau Henderson, Deimos Staryard
Ship Services Technician, Gagarin Landing
160,488
Kepler R C Acquired during the Starfield mission ‘Overdesigned’ 457,641
Kepler S B Acquired during the Starfield mission ‘Overdesigned’ 176,240
Kfir A Ship Services Technician, Cydonia 104,125
Lil Muv II A Inaya Rehman, HopeTown 140,850
Longsword A Nikau Henderson, Deimos Staryard 86,675
Mako A Veronica Young, Neon 83,250
Marathon A Ship Services Technician, Cydonia 159,450
MULE A Ship Services Technician, New Atlantis 97,825
Murasame B Ship Services Technician, Gagarin Landing 250,025
Mustang A Ship Services Technician, Cydonia 79,550
Mustang II A Ship Services Technician, Cydonia 108,895
Mustang III A Ship Services Technician, Cydonia 184,475
Narcissus A Ship Services Technician, New Homestead
Stroud-Eklund Ship Kiosk, Neon
Havershaw, Stroud-Eklund Staryard
107,800
Narcissus II A Havershaw, Stroud-Eklund Staryard 195,360
Narwhal C Veronica Young, Neon 455,400
Nimitz C Ship Services Technician, New Atlantis 237,625
Orca C Veronica Young, Neon 249,925
Orca III C Veronica Young, Neon 479,550
Pelican B Veronica Young, Neon 187,350
Phalanx B Ship Services Technician, Gagarin Landing
Nikau Henderson, Deimos Staryard
169,550
Phalanx II B Ship Services Technician, Gagarin Landing 182,050
Pik Up A Inaya Rehman, HopeTown 122,450
Privateer B Havershaw, Stroud-Eklund Staryard
Stroud-Eklund Ship Kiosk, Neon
Ship Services Technician, Cydonia
146,000
Pterosaur B Ship Services Technician, The Eleos Retreat 139,575
Pterosaur II B Ship Services Technician, The Eleos Retreat 158,000
Rambler A Ship Services Technician, Akila City
Ship Services Technician, Cydonia
Ship Services Technician, Neon
Ship Services Technician, New Atlantis
57,600
Rambler II A Ship Services Technician, New Atlantis
Ship Services Technician, Paradiso
87,850
Ranger B Ship Services Technician, Akila City 220,225
Razorleaf A Complete the Starfield mission ‘Mantis’ 124,100
Responder A Ship Services Technician, Cydonia
Ship Services Technician, The Eleos Retreat
Ship Services Technician, Neon
65,300
Responder II A Ship Services Technician, Akila City
Ship Services Technician, The Eleos Retreat
Ship Services Technician, Neon
Ship Services Technician, Cydonia
116,150
Roanoke B Havershaw, Stroud-Eklund Staryard
Stroud-Eklund Ship Kiosk, Neon
Ship Services Technician, New Homestead
173,925
Shackleton B Inaya Rehman, HopeTown 129,800
Shieldbreaker B Ship Services Technician, New Atlantis 279,425
Silent Runner C Inaya Rehman, HopeTown 390,150
Slipstream II B Ship Services Technician, Cydonia
Ship Services Technician, Gagarin Landing
264,975
Spacer Coyote III B Can be stolen. 227,725
Spacetruk B Inaya Rehman, HopeTown 227725
Sparrow A Ship Services Technician, Neon
Ship Services Technician, New Atlantis
Veronica Young, Neon
72,450
Sparrow II A Ship Services Technician, New Atlantis
Veronica Young, Neon
130,750
Sparrow III A Veronica Young, Neon 162,775
Star Eagle A Complete the Starfield mission ‘The Hammer Falls’ 398,375
Star Semi C Inaya Rehman, HopeTown 279,100
Stronghold C Ship Services Technician, Akila City 400,125
Sunsail B Ship Services Technician, The Eleos Retreat
Ship Services Technician, Paradiso
136,900
Sunsail II B Ship Services Technician, The Eleos Retreat
Ship Services Technician, Paradiso
197,840
Thresher A Ship Services Technician, Akila City
Ship Services Technician, Neon
Nikau Henderson, Deimos Staryard
75,950
Trader Railstar A Ship Services Technician, Red Mile 93,125
Transpo A Ship Services Technician, Neon  57,150
Trebuchet A Havershaw, Stroud-Eklund Staryard 150,125
Trebuchet III A Havershaw, Stroud-Eklund Staryard
Stroud-Eklund Ship Kiosk, Neon
Ship Services Technician, New Atlantis
Ship Services Technician, New Homestead
310,375
UC Prison Ship A Complete the Starfield mission ‘Echoes of the Past’ 56,938
Vagabond A Ship Services Technician, New Homestead 102,950
Vindicator C Havershaw, Stroud-Eklund Staryard
Stroud-Eklund Ship Kiosk, Neon
Ship Services Technician, Cydonia
Ship Services Technician, Gagarin Landing
Ship Services Technician, New Atlantis
263,465
Vindicator III C Stroud-Eklund Ship Kiosk, Neon 430,525
Vista III C Ship Services Technician, Cydonia 548,900
Voyager C Ship Services Technician, New Homestead 319,800
Voyager III C Ship Services Technician, New Homestead 656,300
Wagontrain B Ship Services Technician, Akila City 196,125
Wanderlust B Ship Services Technician, The Eleos Retreat 165,125
War Horse A Ship Services Technician, Neon 132,975
Warhammer B Ship Services Technician, The Eleos Retreat
Ship Services Technician, Gagarin Landing
150,765
Warhammer II B Ship Services Technician, The Eleos Retreat
Ship Services Technician, Gagarin Landing
220,150
Watchdog A Ship Services Technician, Akila City
Inaya Rehman, HopeTown
42,000
Watchdog II A Ship Services Technician, Akila City
Inaya Rehman, HopeTown
87,415
Watchdog III A Ship Services Technician, Akila City 165,475
Wendigo A Lon Anderssen, Red Mile 91,325
Wendigo II A Ship Services Technician, Neon 133,100

A Starfield ship technician waiting to sell, register, or modify a player's ship.

Best community ship designs

Whether you need inspiration for your own designs, or like to see what talented people on the internet have done with their Starfield ship builds. These are the best community ship designs we’ve seen so far.

Starfield ships: an overhead view of some ship schmatics. This is a ship from the tv show Firefly.

Serenity

The setting for everyone’s favorite canceled show, the Firefly-class starship isn’t much to look at, but she’ll get you anywhere in the ‘verse you need to go. This design even has a step-by-step guide here so you can recreate it at home.

Starfield ships: an overhead view of a ship schematic. It's the Normandy from Mass Effect.

Normandy

With the amount of Starfield romance options, you’d be forgiven for thinking this was Mass Effect. Well, now you can bring your own Shepard flavor to the Starfield universe with the rather fancy-looking Normandy.

Starfield ships: a view of a spaceship, specifically the pelican ship from Halo.

Pelican

Get ready to enter the atmosphere with the Pelican – arguably the coolest ship from the Halo series. Militaristic, sleek, and built for battle.

Starfield ships: a recreation of the X-Wing spaceship from Star Wars.

X-Wing

Lead the charge for the Rebel Alliance with this faithful recreation of one of the most famous spaceships of all time. A bit bigger than Luke Skywalker’s go-to runaround, but just as cool.

Best Starfield ship builds - Forward unto Dawn

Forward unto Dawn

Redditor Vanta Genesis recreated Halo’s frigate Forward unto Dawn, it’s an impressive 100m in length and the perfect way to explore space.

Starfield ship designs - Batwing

Batwing

Storm the skies in the Batwing, this slick design can be made by following the guide here.

The aqua colored Planet Express space ship as replicated in Starfield.

Planet Express delivery ship

You can’t be a fan of the future space without being a fan of Bender, Fry, and the gang, so what better ship to replicate in Starfield than Futurama’s teal-colored Planet Express delivery ship? The very creative SP7R has shared a tutorial for the build over on Reddit, but be warned that it could take some time before you have all the parts to build it yourself.

How do I customize my Starfield ship design?

You can tweak how your Starfield ship looks and feels by heading to any Spaceport. Just land on a planet, and you should see a ship technician close between you and the end of the dock. They can sometimes stand beside a Trade Authority kiosk, too.

Interacting with a ship technician will load up a couple of ways to interact with your ships. You can either request that they repair your current ship, register a new ship and store your previous one, buy a whole new ship, or customize and modify a ship in your collection.

You can swap out certain systems and mobiles by paying the difference via a ship technician, but their inventory can be limiting. You’ll also sometimes need to invest in specific Starfield skills to apply the changes. Select Starfield companions will work just as well.

The default view will always swap a new part with its old counterpart, retaining your ship’s general look and shape.

A breakdown of the Starfield ships build mode in action.

Can I use my own Starfield ship design?

By entering the Ship Builder mode by pressing X on your controller, you can specify where you want each Starfield ship module to go.

This allows you to radically change the shape of your ship by stacking modules on top of each other, putting more between the cockpit and the hab rooms your crew uses, or adding more cowling to change the overall shape of your ship.

All Starfield ship stats

As Ryan Sears eloquently put it in the Starfield Direct deep dive, “Your ship is almost like having another character…” By heading to a specific location on most planets, you can tweak and customize a ship to suit your purpose.

From its outward appearance to its system parameters, the imagination (and credits) you put into your spacecraft will directly influence its capabilities and, in turn, where you’re able to go and what you’re able to do while you’re there.

When modifying or building your own ship, various values change depending on the modules you snap onto its frame. Here are the ship stats you can expect to tweak this way:

  • Reactor
  • Crew
  • Jump
  • Shield
  • Ballistics
  • Par
  • Lasers

A simple example of this would be attaching the StorMax 30 Cargo Hold to increase your ship’s internal inventory space. Doing so will allow you to carry more materials back from an expedition, but you might need to adjust other parameters for your ship to deal with the extra weight.

Likewise, you can add more crew space by attaching additional Hab units to your ship. With more space for your team, you’ll be able to bring more NPCs along to help with things like your Starfield outpost efforts.

Can any Starfield ship design work?

Not necessarily; your ship has to be spaceworthy before you can take off. If there’s set to be something that’ll get in the way of your ship’s ability to take off, the ship design screen will list out various errors it detects in your schematics. You won’t be able to finalize your design until they’re all fixed.

A diagram showing every Starfield ship part that can be customized by the player.

What can I change about my Starfield ship design?

As well as the cosmetic design of your ship, there are a multitude of components you can add to your ship, most of which are required to take off from the landing platform. The ship components at your disposal are:

  • Cowling
  • Shield Generator
  • Docker
  • Fuel Tanks
  • Grav Drive
  • Weapons
  • Hab
  • Engines
  • Cockpit
  • Cargo Hold
  • Reactor
  • Bay
  • Landing Gears

Can I paint my Starfield ship?

Using the Starfield ship design screen, you can change the color of various parts of your ship. In the ship design screen, you can press the J key to open the color menu – double clicking on a ship component will highlight the entire ship, where you can paint your entire ship in one go.

For more on Bethesda Softworks’ first new IP in decades, check out the Starfield planets you can travel to, the Starfield research projects you’ll want to take on, and the Starfield mods we suspect will keep this game going for lightyears to come.

Looking for more? While a good Starfield wiki can be a handy source of information, our new Starfield Database goes further. Starfield Db has full ship stats for the Starborn Guardian, RazorleafWanderwell, and more, and offers you daily news, searchable databanks, and even interactive tools.